Just 10 players in all of baseball hit 20 home runs and stole 20 bases last season, a key benchmark for well-rounded contributors in fantasy baseball leagues. Of those 10, eight were outfielders, led by explosive offerings from Mike Trout, Andrew McCutchen, Carlos Gonzalez and Carlos Gomez.

There’s little reason to expect a significant shift in 2014, especially with the possibility of triumphant returns from Ryan Braun, Bryce Harper and others. The outfield position is loaded with talent from top to bottom and it’s inarguably more explosive than any other position in fantasy baseball.

What does that mean for draft strategy? Well, securing an outfielder from the elite tier of Trout, McCutchen and Gonzalez would be a good start. But for those who miss that boat, building depth with do-it-all talent can set the tone for entire rosters and mask deficiencies elsewhere.

The outfield offers hope to secure 30-homer power (Brandon Moss, Nelson Cruz) in the 20th round or later. There’s exciting potential for less-heralded stolen base threats (Coco Crisp, Leonys Martin) to go along with a slew of sure-thing veterans to bring balance and stability to all the upside-chasing.

In building a “portfolio” of outfielders, it’s wise to get a good mix of all of them. Veterans should be added to offset risks presented by unproven players, just like young players can balance the threat of injury and decline in aging stars. It’s an approach that serves fantasy owners well, whether they’re playing in weekly points-based leagues or traditional roto formats.

Here’s a look at our projected order of the 40 outfielders available, along with quick analysis, statistics and their average draft positions. Rankings skew toward rotisserie leagues and away from points-based leagues and should be adjusted accordingly to fit your league’s scoring system.

1. Mike Trout, OF, LAA: Power/speed regressed in ’13, but walked more, struck out less and proved a legit .320 hitter with likelihood for 30/30.

Leonys Martin, TEX: Martin is talented enough to build on a strong 2013 campaign, in which he broke out with eight home runs and stole 36 bases. Those numbers look like a starting point, not the end, as Martin enters this season with statistical opportunities to improve his power and/or batting average. There’s also a bonus to be had if he makes a move to the top of the Rangers’ lineup. Martin has more potential to unearth, in addition to the fact that he was one of just 16 players to steal at least 30 bases last season. The floor’s pretty good for the 26-year-old. The ceiling could still be great.

Nelson Cruz, BAL: Cruz served a 50-game suspension at the end of last season, which crushed his fantasy stock in multiple ways. His 2013 season -- 27 HRs, 76 RBIs -- was very good but he played in just 109 games. And his body of work is suddenly put into question with his connection to Biogenesis. But Cruz is a natural, athletic slugger who can still be a force, especially in a new ballpark (Camden Yards) that’s as hitter-friendly as the one he left. Cruz is a case where the perceived risks might be overblown, giving him value potential at the ends of drafts.

Kole Calhoun, LAA: Calhoun presents an opportunity to catch lightning in a bottle with a last-round flyer or early waiver claim in standard leagues. He was a proven double-digit producer in homers and steals with a quality walk rate in the minors, figures that translated into a red-hot stretch in the majors last season. Calhoun has a full-time opportunity ahead of him with the Angels and the potential to chip in a .260-15-70-70-15 line, if healthy. Fantasy owners could do worse as a No. 5 or No. 6 outfielder in mixed leagues, freely able to cut bait if Calhoun struggles early.

BUSTS

Matt Kemp, LAD: The upside chasing is natural. Kemp was a top-five player with all five tools and an early beat on superstardom after hitting .324 with 39 home runs and 40 stolen bases in 2011. But since then, he’s battled ankle and shoulder injuries that limited his playing time and zapped his production. Kemp enters the 2014 season fresh off October ankle surgery, and his Opening Day status is still up in the air. He’s a great risk at a spot in drafts that features safer options who still have upside, such as Wil Myers, Yoenis Cespedes and Starling Marte. Take a pass unless the value is right.

Michael Cuddyer, COL: Cuddyer is not a .331 hitter. Good fortune played a part in his sudden ascent to National League batting champ, which is sure to correct itself in 2014. Cuddyer is also not a consistent 20-home run hitter, having never put together back-to-back 20-homer campaigns, thanks in large part to an inordinate groundball rate (47.0%) for a player of his size and profile. With the average likely to slip back toward ordinary and power numbers that have plateaued, it’s wise to knock Cuddyer back a few rounds in pre-draft rankings.

Allen Craig, STL: The threat of injury is too large to make Craig a priority in drafts, especially as he takes on a bigger role in the outfield. Combine the reality of a disabled list stint — he’s made four in four seasons — with a questionable home run total (13) from last season, and Craig is worth moving a round or two down from his ADP of 57.